TIMEMORE Black Mirror Basic 2 scale
A slim coffee scale with 0.1g resolution, a built-in timer that starts on its own, and a flow-rate readout. The simplest way to repeat a good lever shot.
Listed for: Any espresso setup
Good for
- Weighing the dose and the shot so you can change one thing at a time
- Timing shots without a separate timer
Watch out for
- Check it fits under your portafilter and on your drip tray before relying on it there
Details from the listing
- Range
- 0.1 to 2,000 g, in 0.1 g steps
- Timer
- Auto timing starts when the weight changes
- Battery
- 1,600 mAh, USB-C charging, about 24 hours per charge
- Size
- 6.0 x 5.1 x 1.0 in (152 x 130 x 26 mm)
- Weight
- About 13.8 oz (380 g)
Why a scale helps on a lever
A lever shot depends on the dose, the grind and how you pull. Weighing the coffee going in and the espresso coming out turns guesswork into numbers you can repeat. The auto timer starts when coffee starts to drip, so you can watch time and weight together.
Machines it suits
Best first lever
Europiccola
The smallest La Pavoni lever. One small boiler for brewing and steaming, no gauge, and the most direct way into a manual lever.
- Boiler capacity
- 0.8 L per La Pavoni. US sources list 20 oz (manual) or 27 oz (importer).
- Basket size
- About 51mm (Millennium, made after 2000). Older machines use about 49mm.
- Pressure gauge
- None listed on the standard model (sight glass only). The Special Edition EPC-8SB adds one.
More shots per fill
Professional
The Europiccola's lever and group on a boiler twice the size, with a pressure gauge. The better daily lever for milk drinks or two people.
- Boiler capacity
- 1.6 L per La Pavoni. US sources list 38 oz (manual, Amazon) or 54 oz (importer).
- Basket size
- About 51mm (Millennium, made after 2000). Older machines use about 49mm.
- Pressure gauge
- Yes, on the boiler. The US manual says it should top out at 0.7 to 0.8 bar and never pass 1 bar.
Sources
Amazon US product listings.